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Engaging in aerobic exercise three times a week helped mice convert their mesenchymal stem cells into bone, rather than fat, researchers reported in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. The findings suggest that exercise helps stave off obesity by turning stem cells into bone, which also promotes blood production and overall health, experts said.

Related Summaries

Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified which stem cells in mice create bone, cartilage and bone marrow. Researchers found that stem cells at the ends of mouse bones divide rapidly and can transform into bone, cartilage and stroma. They also charted the chemical signals that allow fat cells to transform into skeletal stem cells, which they believe can be done in humans. The study appeared in the journal Cell.

Obese children who engaged in aerobic exercises for 12 weeks showed dose-response improvements in bone formation, insulin sensitivity and visceral fat levels, according to a study presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. The body may sense environmental stimuli associated with physical activity and prompt adipocytes and pancreatic cells to regulate fat storage and energy metabolism, the study lead author said.

Inflammation helped stimulate two key proteins responsible for regulating blood glucose levels in mice with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, a study in Nature Medicine revealed. Researchers said that obesity and insulin resistance prevent people's cells from responding to inflammatory signals and that boosting the inflammatory response could be a new approach in diabetes treatment.

A Canadian study involving mice found that exercise can improve the body's capacity to produce blood. Stem cells in inactive mice had the tendency to turn to fat, which would limit blood production in bone marrow cavities, according to the study.